Jann Wenner gets the scoop in an in depth interview about the musician's politics and love life: PHOTOGRAPHS (even with Bob Dylan)_
Interview with Joan Baez: 1968, Berkley-CAInterviewer: Jann Wenner Jann: So we have the beautiful, peaceful singer/ activist, Joan Baez, here today, and boy are we excited to get into this young women’s head!
Joan: Hey there. I’m happy to be here, although I’d like to be outside on this beautiful day.
Jann: Oh, don’t you just love California. First I’d like to ask you what is it that has motivated you to become such an involved activist?
Joan: Well, growing up I was often mocked for my Spanish decent, and ever since then
my concern has been for the people who are victimized, unable to speak for themselves and who need outside help.
Jann: Well good for you. We need someone like you to help motivate others to voice what they believe in. Have you always been so bold with your opinions?
Joan: I think of it this way…if you have any opinion, why be modest about it?
Jann: You are such a strong women. Do you think women should be treated equally to men? What’s your view on women’s rights?
Joan: Of course I believe women should be treated as equals, all citizens should be treated with the same respect, I mean we all are humans just with different genders, skin colors, and sexual preferences. But that doesn’t matter, what matters is what’s on the inside. However, to answer your question directly, I don’t think women should feel the need to compete with men. We should instead, give our best qualities to men, teach them to be gentle and learn to cry.
Jann: It seems that you’ve involved with promoting rights for almost every minority in American, whether it’s through a political message in a song or protesting with Martin Luther king. What was it like walking arm and arm with MLK in one of his marches?
Joan: Well it was definitely an inspiring experience to say the least. I’ve been so blessed to be able to be apart of his freedom movements. When we marched in a civil rights movement through Alabama in 1965, we sang songs to support African American freedom, the most famous song “We Shall Overcome”. It was an uplifting moment, I’ll tell you that.
Jann: Moving on from political talk….lets hear about your love life…Bob Dylan, ring a bell??
Joan: Ah yes…the famous question. Well Dylan and I have been close friends for a wile now, and we really share the same aspiration of music. He has such a unique tone of voice, whereas I’ve been known for my “pure soprano voice”, but I’d like to think our voices mesh harmonically together. He’s got such talent and I feel really special to be able to share such radical music duets with him.
Jann: You’ve been compared to Bob Dylan as a his “female counterpart” in the faces of Folk Music. How do you feel about this?
Joan: Oh, I don’t know. I mean I wouldn’t go that far, although it’s a huge compliment, but that’s not my motivation. I’m not trying to become a famous music star you know…I’m more of trying to promote human rights, to give people a song to sing that reminds them of the unity that so many Americans strive for…I’m trying to give African Americans a voice of freedom….letting people know that “we WILL overcome segregation”.
Jann: Well aren’t you quite the motivator. And you really are, Joan. Now just a few more questions, and then we’ll let you go off to the beautiful day. How do you feel about the War in Vietnam?
Joan: Well, I don’t want to get too riled up but as you may know I’ve protested in many anti war events. I don’t support the war…I don’t support any war for that matter. What I don’t understand is, if it's natural to kill, why do men have to go into training to learn how?
Jann: Well isn’t that a valid point. You are a strong leader in the protests against war, how do you feel about Jane Fonda…not to start any girl-on-girl drama, but what are your thoughts on her tactics?
Joan: Well to start off, Jane is a very bold women for being so strong with her opinions, but I don’t believe in her aggression towards this issue. It seems as though she’s supporting the Vietnam war, which is not what I would call “Anti-War”. I know that I’m not on any side of war, I’m against the entire idea of it.
Jann: Have you done anything specifically besides protesting to show your disgust toward the war?
Joan: Well I’ve refused to pay taxes for any spending that goes towards the war…I guess you could call that “Civil Disobedience”…but I’ll do anything for peace and freedom
Jann: Well it’s been such a pleasure getting to know you and hearing your opinions on such prominent issues which have been so relevant throughout the 60’s. Thanks so much Joan
Joan: It was no problem. Peace and Love, Jann.
Joan Baez sings the Civil Rights Anthem, "WE SHALL OVERCOME" live at Woodstock 1969
"Liberty and Power: Group Blog." Rev. of Joan Baez and Jane Fonda. Weblog post. Joan Baez Vs. Jane Fonda. History News Network, 1 May 2005. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. <http://hnn.us/blogs/comments/11490.html>
Rolling Stone
Joan Baez: The Female Face of Folk
Jann Wenner gets the scoop in an in depth interview about the musician's politics and love life: PHOTOGRAPHS (even with Bob Dylan)_
Interview with Joan Baez: 1968, Berkley-CAInterviewer: Jann Wenner
Joan: Hey there. I’m happy to be here, although I’d like to be outside on this beautiful day.
Jann: Oh, don’t you just love California. First I’d like to ask you what is it that has motivated you to become such an involved activist?
Joan: Well, growing up I was often mocked for my Spanish decent, and ever since then
my concern has been for the people who are victimized, unable to speak for themselves and who need outside help.
Jann: Well good for you. We need someone like you to help motivate others to voice what they believe in. Have you always been so bold with your opinions?
Joan: I think of it this way…if you have any opinion, why be modest about it?
Jann: You are such a strong women. Do you think women should be treated equally to men? What’s your view on women’s rights?
Joan: Of course I believe women should be treated as equals, all citizens should be treated with the same respect, I mean we all are humans just with different genders, skin colors, and sexual preferences. But that doesn’t matter, what matters is what’s on the inside. However, to answer your question directly, I don’t think women should feel the need to compete with men. We should instead, give our best qualities to men, teach them to be gentle and learn to cry.
Jann: It seems that you’ve involved with promoting rights for almost every minority in American, whether it’s through a political message in a song or protesting with Martin Luther king. What was it like walking arm and arm with MLK in one of his marches?
Joan: Well it was definitely an inspiring experience to say the least. I’ve been so blessed to be able to be apart of his freedom movements. When we marched in a civil rights movement through Alabama in 1965, we sang songs to support African American freedom, the most famous song “We Shall Overcome”. It was an uplifting moment, I’ll tell you that.
Jann: Moving on from political talk….lets hear about your love life…Bob Dylan, ring a bell??
Joan: Ah yes…the famous question. Well Dylan and I have been close friends for a wile now, and we really share the same aspiration of music. He has such a unique tone of voice, whereas I’ve been known for my “pure soprano voice”, but I’d like to think our voices mesh harmonically together. He’s got such talent and I feel really special to be able to share such radical music duets with him.
Jann: You’ve been compared to Bob Dylan as a his “female counterpart” in the faces of Folk Music. How do you feel about this?
Joan: Oh, I don’t know. I mean I wouldn’t go that far, although it’s a huge compliment, but that’s not my motivation. I’m not trying to become a famous music star you know…I’m more of trying to promote human rights, to give people a song to sing that reminds them of the unity that so many Americans strive for…I’m trying to give African Americans a voice of freedom….letting people know that “we WILL overcome segregation”.
Jann: Well aren’t you quite the motivator. And you really are, Joan. Now just a few more questions, and then we’ll let you go off to the beautiful day. How do you feel about the War in Vietnam?
Joan: Well, I don’t want to get too riled up but as you may know I’ve protested in many anti war events. I don’t support the war…I don’t support any war for that matter. What I don’t understand is, if it's natural to kill, why do men have to go into training to learn how?
Jann: Well isn’t that a valid point. You are a strong leader in the protests against war, how do you feel about Jane Fonda…not to start any girl-on-girl drama, but what are your thoughts on her tactics?
Joan: Well to start off, Jane is a very bold women for being so strong with her opinions, but I don’t believe in her aggression towards this issue. It seems as though she’s supporting the Vietnam war, which is not what I would call “Anti-War”. I know that I’m not on any side of war, I’m against the entire idea of it.
Jann: Have you done anything specifically besides protesting to show your disgust toward the war?
Joan: Well I’ve refused to pay taxes for any spending that goes towards the war…I guess you could call that “Civil Disobedience”…but I’ll do anything for peace and freedom
Jann: Well it’s been such a pleasure getting to know you and hearing your opinions on such prominent issues which have been so relevant throughout the 60’s. Thanks so much Joan
Joan: It was no problem. Peace and Love, Jann.
Joan Baez sings the Civil Rights Anthem, "WE SHALL OVERCOME" live at Woodstock 1969
Work Cited
"Joan Baez." Rev. of Joan Baez. Web Log post. Joan Baez. Wikipedia, 23 Mar. 2010. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. <• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Baez>.Weblog post. Joan Baez. Women's History, 8 Dec. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2010. <http://womenshistory.about.com/od/joanbaez/a/joan_baez.htm>.
"Liberty and Power: Group Blog." Rev. of Joan Baez and Jane Fonda. Weblog post. Joan Baez Vs. Jane Fonda. History News Network, 1 May 2005. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. <http://hnn.us/blogs/comments/11490.html>
"Folk Singing: Sibyl with Guitar." Web Log post. Folk Singing. Time, 23 Nov. 1962. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,829501,00.html>.
"Celebrating Women's History." Rev. of Joan Baez. Web Log post. Joan Baez. Galeschools.com, 10 June 2008. Web. 19 Mar. 2010. <http://www.galeschools.com/womens_history/bio/baez_j.htm>.